Texas Instruments (TI) says it has signed up two new customers in China who will use OMAP SoCs (systems-on-chip) in mobile telephone handsets. Additionally, TI says its will expand its Asian Linux strategy, putting more emphasis on providing local Linux support to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in China.

New OMAP customers, activities

TI's new OMAP customers include Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co., which is a government-owned TEM (telecommunications equipment manufacturer), and COMMIT Incorporated, which is an R&D joint venture between TI and several Chinese TEMs. Datang expects to ship a reference design for a Linux phone based on OMAP in Q1, 2005, it announced last week.

Datang's Linux phone reference design will include Trolltech's Qtopia Phone Edition, an application stack and user interface for mobile phones that Trolltech ported to the OMAP platform last month.

TI's pre-existing OMAP customers in the region include Eastern Communications Co (Eastcom), Lenovo Mobile, and others, it says.

New focus on Linux support

According to TI, Linux has quickly become the operating system preferred by OEMs and governments in China and throughout Asia. The company says its OMAP platform supports “industry-leading” MontaVista Linux OSes and tools.

TI says it will extend its Linux strategy through its OMAP Developer Network. Network members offer a range of tools, plug-ins, off-the-shelf user interfaces, and other components. From these offerings, TI says, it is possible to assemble a complete Linux framework for OMAP that streamlines development. TI will demonstrate its Linux framework, along with OMAP Developer Network members Trolltech and China MobileSoft, during the 3G World Congress in Hong Kong, Nov. 16-19.

Cellular Systems's TI marketing director, Paul Werp, said, “TI is committed to working with leading developers who are providing local support for Linux in China and throughout Asia, in order to get OEMs to market faster.”

 
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